Film Competition Screener

Austin Film Festival Mission: Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film and television to tell a story. AFF is dedicated to providing unique cultural events and services, enhancing public awareness and participation and encouraging long lasting community partnerships. 

What We Do: Austin Film Festival hosts a robust Film Competition, averaging 6,000 submissions from around the world annually. With a variety of categories to submit in, our goal is to support and uplift emerging storytellers, while helping new voices break into the industry. As volunteer screeners, our job is to conduct a thorough evaluation and give thoughtful feedback in order to help filmmakers elevate their work. 

About our Film Selection Committee: Our Film Selection Committee consists of over 200 volunteers from all over the world who are professionals in their respective areas of filmmaking. They are handpicked by Austin Film Festival Programmers and trained on screening films through the lens of the mission of Austin Film Festival in order to help Programmers curate the Festivals' lineup of films. 

Screener Program: The ideal candidate for the Screener Program is a voracious screener who is well-versed in the basics of filmmaking and has a keen sense for analyzing a film’s narrative. At AFF, storytelling is our focus, and applicants must complete an assessment before being considered to help us determine the strength of a screener’s eye for strong storytelling and quality.

Screeners who are accepted are required to join our Onboarding Call, prior to receiving film assignments. Screeners will be asked to assess the film in the following categories: Storytelling, Originality, Characters, Direction, and Overall. One of the most exciting aspects of screening for AFF is each screener accumulates hours that go towards a Badge to our 32nd Annual Austin Film Festival this upcoming October. Joining our Screener Program will give you a unique opportunity to grow as a filmmaker, and we hope to have you aboard. 

Compensation: At minimum, each member of the Film Selection Committee are expected to watch 10 hours worth of submissions between the time they're onboarded and our final deadline for screening in September. Screeners will earn a Film Pass and/or Badge to attend Austin Film Festival live and in person. Additionally, they gain access to all of AFF's year-round events, including tapings of our On Story radio/tv/podcast series, parties, and other networking events. We take those extra steps to ensure that your experience as a member of this committee is fruitful and enjoyable both for the Festival and beyond! 

If interested, please email Samuel at film@austinfilmfestival.com.